Sensing system and method

Abstract

A sensing system is configured to detect physical parameters of a fluid sample. In particular, the sensing system is configured to detect the dew point of the fluid by reducing temperature of a sensing medium and detecting the fluid condensate on a sensing surface by directing light from a light source to the sensing surface and detecting the light reflected off the sensing surface onto a light detector. The light source and the light detector are on the opposite side of the sensing medium from the sensing surface.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A system comprising:
 a sensing medium comprising at least two surfaces, a sensing surface capable of being in direct contact with a sample and a back surface substantially isolated from the sample; 
 at least one sensor arranged to collect temperature information for use in determining a temperature of the sensing surface; 
 at least one thermal module arranged to alter the temperature of the sensing surface; 
 at least one light source configured to emit light through the sensing medium to the sensing surface such that at least a portion of the light reflects from the sensing surface onto at least one light detector when the sensing surface is not in direct contact with the sample; 
 the at least one light detector having a light detector output, the light detector output comprising a light detector signal indicative of a measure of light detected by the light detector; 
 a processing unit having as an input the light detector signal and the temperature information and having a processing unit output, the processing unit output comprising output information from which at least one physical characteristic of the sample can be determined;
 wherein the light source and the light detector are separated from the sample by the sensing medium; and 
 
 a heat sink arranged to at least partially remove heat from the at least one thermal module, wherein the heat sink includes a central part, wherein the sensing medium, the at least one sensor, the at least one thermal module and the at least one light source are located within the central part. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the output information is configured to determine dew point of the sample. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the output information is configured to determine concentration of the sample. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the output information is configured to determine dew point of the sample and concentration of the sample. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1  wherein the sensing medium is made of dielectric material. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1  wherein the sensing medium is made of sapphire. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1  wherein the sensing medium is made of quartz. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1  wherein the sensing medium is made of glass. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1  further comprising at least one slug arranged between the sensing medium and the at least one thermal module. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 1  wherein the processing unit comprises a light detector output processing module. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 1  wherein the processing unit comprises a physical characteristics calculation module. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 1  wherein the processing unit comprises a thermal module control module. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a sensor head comprising the sensing medium, the at least one sensor, the at least one thermal module, the at least one light source and the at least one light detector, and 
 wherein the processing unit is in communication with more than one sensor head. 
 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the central part of the heat sink is cylindrical. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat sink comprises an outside portion connected to the central part of the heat sink and the outside portion comprises a plurality of fins. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of fins are interlocked together to form a stacked fin array. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the central part of the heat sink comprises:
 a core; and 
 a cavity that forms a gap separating the core from an outside portion of the heat sink. 
 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the central part of the heat sink comprises a piston that is configured to expand to provide contact with an outside portion of the heat sink. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat sink comprises:
 a hollow center; and 
 at least one heat pipe extending from a first side of the heat sink to the back side of the heat sink, wherein the heat pipe is configured to transfer heat from the first side of the heat sink to the back side of the heat sink. 
 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the output information is based on the light detector signal and the temperature information. 
     
     
       21. A sensing method comprising:
 increasing temperature of a sensing surface of a sensing medium above a predetermined level, wherein the sensing surface of the sensing medium is in direct contact with a sample; 
 gradually decreasing the temperature of the sensing surface using a thermal module; 
 detecting light emitted by a light source through the sensing medium to the sensing surface of the sensing medium; 
 generating a detected light signal based on the detected light; 
 detecting temperature of the sensing surface using a sensor; 
 generating a detected temperature signal based on the detected temperature; 
 outputting sample information from which at least one physical characteristic of the sample can be determined;
 wherein the sample information is at least partially based on the detected light signal and the detected temperature signal; and 
 wherein the light source is separated from the sample by the sensing medium; and 
 
 removing heat from the thermal module using a heat sink having a central part, wherein the sensing medium, the sensor, the thermal module and the light source are located within the central part. 
 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 21  further comprising using the sample information to determine dew point of the sample. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 21  further comprising using the sample information to determine a concentration of the sample. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 21  further comprising using the sample information to determine dew and concentration of the sample.